Please help, I don't know what's wrong with her (video attached)

[BeckyEggy]

I've attached a video of my 11 day old Serama chick (I hope its worked). She itched like this since she hatched and dried off. She's been indoors with her two siblings in a plastic brooder. The other two chicks aren't scratching themselves. I can't see anything on her skin. This evening the itch is really bothering her, she's making a lot more noise and scratching a lot. Could it be mites? If so can I use the same mite powder I would give to my hens?

I've lost one chick from this hatch already due to a problem with it's crop - sour crop and then an impacted crop. I really don't want to lose another.

 

[Mimi13]

I've attached a video of my 11 day old Serama chick (I hope its worked). She itched like this since she hatched and dried off. She's been indoors with her two siblings in a plastic brooder. The other two chicks aren't scratching themselves. I can't see anything on her skin. This evening the itch is really bothering her, she's making a lot more noise and scratching a lot. Could it be mites? If so can I use the same mite powder I would give to my hens?

I've lost one chick from this hatch already due to a problem with it's crop - sour crop and then an impacted crop. I really don't want to lose another.

Oh heavens. Bless it. I think it is something more critical than an actual itch, but I do not know anything about this. It’s just my intuition. It’ll be interesting to see what the experts say. I wish you and your chick all the best. I feel for the little fluffy thing.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

@Eggcessive @casportpony @Wyorp Rock

 

[Eggcessive]

I would agree that it looks more like something else, maybe a neurological condition. I would feed it some chicken vitamins, such as Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell, several drops a day. Those have vitamin E, vitamin B1, and selenium which can be helpful with neurological conditions. Try to get her to take some water and food, possibly wetting a small amount of the feed or a little egg.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I've attached a video of my 11 day old Serama chick (I hope its worked). She itched like this since she hatched and dried off. She's been indoors with her two siblings in a plastic brooder. The other two chicks aren't scratching themselves. I can't see anything on her skin. This evening the itch is really bothering her, she's making a lot more noise and scratching a lot. Could it be mites? If so can I use the same mite powder I would give to my hens?

I've lost one chick from this hatch already due to a problem with it's crop - sour crop and then an impacted crop. I really don't want to lose another.

This almost looks like a seizure, suggesting a neurological problem. I think that the vitamin supplementation suggested above is a good idea.

 

[BeckyEggy]

Thank you for the feedback. I had a chick last year - different breed - with a neurological problem and he didn't get better, ended up in a very bad way. Vet injected Vitamin E into his breast and I was giving drops multiple times a day, ended up having to have him put down. It'll be sad to see it happen again if she doesn't improve. I've given her some drops, she seems to be getting worse fast unfortunately.

 

[50-45-1]

If i were you in addition to the vitamins, i would change up the enviroment she is in.
Maybe it is a sensitivity to the plastic or something.
Go to a cardboard box with pine shavings instead.
On a sunny warm day take them out in the fresh air in the yard and see if this scratching continues or gets better.
Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Thank you for the feedback. I had a chick last year - different breed - with a neurological problem and he didn't get better, ended up in a very bad way. Vet injected Vitamin E into his breast and I was giving drops multiple times a day, ended up having to have him put down. It'll be sad to see it happen again if she doesn't improve. I've given her some drops, she seems to be getting worse fast unfortunately.

I hope your current chick grows out of this or that it’s a nutritional deficiency that you can treat. Was the neuro chick from last year related to this current chick?

 

[BeckyEggy]

No not at all. I got the eggs for the hatches from different farms. I'm in the UK and the farms were at the opposite end of the country and specialise in completely different breeds. Which makes me wonder if it's something I'm doing... I'm using the brinsea mini advanced and following the recommended setting. When they hatch they stay in the incubator until dry and then go into the brooder and are fed chick crumbs and have access to water.

I did help this chick out of her egg. After 28 hours she had her beak and two toes out but appeared to be unable to zip.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

No not at all. I got the eggs for the hatches from different farms. I'm in the UK and the farms were at the opposite end of the country and specialise in completely different breeds. Which makes me wonder if it's something I'm doing... I'm using the brinsea mini advanced and following the recommended setting. When they hatch they stay in the incubator until dry and then go into the brooder and are fed chick crumbs and have access to water.

I did help this chick out of her egg. After 28 hours she had her beak and two toes out but appeared to be unable to zip.

Mmmm. Maybe the crumbles brand? Just looking for common denominators! I doubt the incubator would explain it...